Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL433
Release Date: 2011-03-15
Frederick Hemke, saxophone; Kronos Quartet: [David Harrington, violin; John Sherba, violin; Hank Dutt, viola; Joan Jeanrenaud, cello]; Chester Quartet: [Peter Matzka, violin; Susan Freier, violin; Melissa Matson, viola; Thomas Rosenberg, cello]; Eastman Quartet: [Frank Glazer, piano; Millard Taylor, violin; Francis Tursi, viola; Ronald Leonard, cello]
Warren Benson writes:
“The three works on this record exhibit, as do many of my works, my tendency to choose language as it suits my fancy, my style not being dependent primarily on the language employed, but rather on expressive elements. I am a generalist, being inclusive rather than exclusive with regard to musical techniques, tastes, and fashion.
“The title, The Dream Net, came to me through the gift of a book from my friend, the composer Alec Wilder. The book was by Sigurd Olsen, a naturalist who has written a number of times about canoeing the white-water rivers of North America. The particulars of the title relate to Indians gathering wild rice in Lake Superior and leaving their young children on shore while they worked in canoes nearby. To amuse the babies, a spider-like device was woven from willow twigs and suspended on leather thongs from the low branch over the head of the baby, who could watch this interesting contraption — the dream net — wave overhead, making interesting light patterns through the intricate weave...
“String Quartet was commissioned by the West Point String Quartet upon our coming together during a spring music festival at East Carolina University some years ago. They heard a number of my works, and I heard them play, and during our meeting together it was suggested that I write a work for them. The work is essentially simple: a melodic first movement; an elementary, somewhat satiric dance movement; a rather soulful third movement with expressive solos for each instrument, and a finale, fast and wild, based on my experience with the folk music of Macedonia where I lived for two years.
“Capriccio was written expressly for the Eastman Quartet to celebrate the fiftieth anniversity of the Eastman School of Music, on commission from the School. I have tried to take advantage of the various virtuoso aspects of the individual players, their tone quality, and my interest, at that time, in music of a rather dissonant nature. The principal problem of balance between the piano and the three strings is resolved in the conclusion, where the overpowering surge of the piano comes forward in the thunderous climax.”
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Warren Benson writes:
“The three works on this record exhibit, as do many of my works, my tendency to choose language as it suits my fancy, my style not being dependent primarily on the language employed, but rather on expressive elements. I am a generalist, being inclusive rather than exclusive with regard to musical techniques, tastes, and fashion.
“The title, The Dream Net, came to me through the gift of a book from my friend, the composer Alec Wilder. The book was by Sigurd Olsen, a naturalist who has written a number of times about canoeing the white-water rivers of North America. The particulars of the title relate to Indians gathering wild rice in Lake Superior and leaving their young children on shore while they worked in canoes nearby. To amuse the babies, a spider-like device was woven from willow twigs and suspended on leather thongs from the low branch over the head of the baby, who could watch this interesting contraption — the dream net — wave overhead, making interesting light patterns through the intricate weave...
“String Quartet was commissioned by the West Point String Quartet upon our coming together during a spring music festival at East Carolina University some years ago. They heard a number of my works, and I heard them play, and during our meeting together it was suggested that I write a work for them. The work is essentially simple: a melodic first movement; an elementary, somewhat satiric dance movement; a rather soulful third movement with expressive solos for each instrument, and a finale, fast and wild, based on my experience with the folk music of Macedonia where I lived for two years.
“Capriccio was written expressly for the Eastman Quartet to celebrate the fiftieth anniversity of the Eastman School of Music, on commission from the School. I have tried to take advantage of the various virtuoso aspects of the individual players, their tone quality, and my interest, at that time, in music of a rather dissonant nature. The principal problem of balance between the piano and the three strings is resolved in the conclusion, where the overpowering surge of the piano comes forward in the thunderous climax.”
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Music of Warren Benson
| MP3/320 | $14.00 | |
| FLAC | $14.00 | |
| WAV | $14.00 | |
| CD-R | $14.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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The Dream Net: I. Slow, sinewy, quarter-note = 60
Warren Benson
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Buy
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The Dream Net: II. Quick, rompish, quarter-note= 176
Warren Benson
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Buy
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The Dream Net: III. Flexing, quarter-note = 48
Warren Benson
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Buy
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String Quartet No. 1: I. Slowly - searching
Warren Benson
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Buy
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String Quartet No. 1: II. Fast and dancy
Warren Benson
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Buy
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String Quartet No. 1: III. Slowly - finding
Warren Benson
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Buy
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String Quartet No. 1: IV. Fast and wild
Warren Benson
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Buy
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Capriccio
Warren Benson
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Buy
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